Racket string tightening machine



June 9, 1936. J. sALADlNo RACKET STRING TIGHTENING MACHINE Filed Feb. 14,

Figure 2.

Patented June 9, 1936 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE A' RACKT STRING TIGH'IENING MACHINE Joseph Sandino, Reading, Mass.

Application February 14, 1935, Serial No. 6,561

14 Claims. (Cl. 273-73) This invention relates to Vimprovements in a racket string tightening machine.

One object of my invention is to improve the means whereby the racket string tightening ma- Ychine is automatically stopped in the string tightening operation when a predetermined point is reached, It isghighly desirableto pull `each string to a certain degree of tightness, and inthis operation, when actuating thelever or other actuating means it is much easier for the operator to safely to be able to actuate it to the limit, instead of having to watch the gauge; and ceasing the actuating movement when the .gaugereaches a certain point. Accordingly, Ihave improved the construction of the means for automatically limiting the actuating movement. Also it has been positioned with respect to the other parts nf the machine Where it may readily be adjusted when `a change in the limit .of theactuating movement is desired.k

VAnother object of my inventionis to improve .upon the rotatable tightening deviceso that the stringvmay be tightened withla minimum actuating movement, therebyvmakingthe work of the .operator..easy, and giving myV machine a greater range of adjustability. Y

The foregoing and other objectswhich will-apvpear as the nature of vthe invention Pis better understood, may be accomplished by a construction, combination and operative arrangement of vparts such asis disclosed by thel drawing. The nature of the invention is such'as to render it susceptible to various changes and modifications, and, therefore, I am not to be limited to the construction disclosedbythe drawing; but arri-en titled to all such changes therefrom as fall within the scope of my claims. n

In thedrawing:

-Figure 1 is a side elevation view of my machine for tightening racket strings. Y

Figure 2 vis a plan view showing the tensioning device. v

Figure 3 is a section'taken onthe line 3 3 o As illustrated, my racket string tightening ma- 'chine vhas a base I5 supporting-a vertical stand- Vard I6. My machine isactuated by depressing a treadle I8 which is pivoted as at I9 to a bracket which is held to said base I5. `A convenient shelf 22 is mounted on said standard I6 tohold tools o r other articles. A bracket 23 is mounted onA said standard I6 andextends to the front of the machine, supporting the tension (device, and "also cooperating with Ythejautomatic Vstop means to limit the downward movement of said treadle I8 to a predetermined point, a portion of said stop means extending through a hole 25 in an extension portion 24 of said bracket 23. Said 4automatic stop means has an adjusting rod 26 which is'slidably mounted in said hole 25 and ha-s a screw threaded portion 21 which screws part way into a socketY 28, which is pivotally mounted on a pin 29 between upstanding ears 30, said Vpin being held in position by a cotter pin 3l. Adjustment of my said automatic stop means may be made by screwing said adjusting rod 26; but itis ordinarily made by a collar on said rod, later described. At the top of my said adjusting rod 26 is a wing nut 33 viixed thereto by a pin 34. Belowsaid nut is a stop member in the form of an adjusting collar 35 slidably mounted on said rod 26 which is held in a predetermined position by a set screw 36. When said collar, which is ixedly held in place by said set scr-ew 36, contacts saidl bracket extension 24,'

the downward movement of said treadle I8 is stoppedand the position of said collar 35 determines the extent of said downward movement. Inasmuch as the depression of said treadle I8 also actuates rthe tensioning device-50 latervdescribed, `when said collar 35 contacts said extension 24 the movement of the tensioning device 5D also stops.

My machine has a rotatable racket support or holder consistingof a frame 4I and a top 42,

on which are mounted racket holding clamps 4,3

which are r,operated by thumb screws 44. The upstanding portions V of said clamps 43 are recessed as at 46 to receive an insert 4'I of leather or other material `that will not scratch or mar. the racket when the said clamps 43 are tightened.

The' strings extending from the tennis racket 48 are drawn tight by atensioning deviceg-50 supported by said bracket 23, which device has a pulley 5I connected to which is a cable 52 which is fastened at one end asiat 53 tofsaid treadle I8 and has a spring 54 connected to the other end which spring is vconnected to a plate 55 which is screwed as at 56 to said base I5. It will readily be seen that the depression of said treadle I8 will rotate said tension device 50 to Ywhich a racket string may be fastened, in which event 'said string wllrbe tightened. Said tension device has a housing 59, a barrel portion 60 which has abulge or raised portion 6I. A cleat 62 on said barrel 60 is adapted to receive the string fromthe racket, and when said string is fastened thereto rotation of said tensioning device 50 tightens said string. A scale 63 near one end of saidr tensioning device togetherV with the Vpointer i Y Y tively conneetedto said movablemeans vadapted gto limit said actuating movement, saidfmecha- Y nism embodying a rod` slidably mounted in said hole.

' string hasV been pulled. Inside saidbarrel is a d spring 65 which is compressed when saidtensioning device is rotated. YAA description ofthe* construction and operation of said tensioning device was made in my patent application, Serial No. 737,562, filing date July 30, 1934. As said tensioningrdevice 50 is rotated to tighten the stringV t Vsaid raisedportion 6I, by the lift itV gives tothe string',rhelps `to tighten it, cooperating with the meansV `for actuating said tensioning device 50 `so that said treadle VI8 need not bedepressed so uponactuation to tighten a string in aracket far because ofY it.

What I claim is:`r

ing'movement.V c, Y Y t 2. A racket string tightening machine comprising in combination, supportingimea'ns fora racket, instrumentalities adapted to receiverand embodying a tensioning device, movable means Yto actuate said instrumentalities, and mechanism v in front of said tensioning device and operatively jconnected to saidsmovab'le means adaptedto limit 'saidfactuating movement, said mechanism embodyinga stop member.

, {ifAvracketV stringtightening machine; com- 'Y prising in combination, Vsupporting'means lfor a racket,V instrumentalities{adapted to receive and Y .Y I upon actuation-'to tighten a string in a racket, Y movable means to actuate said instrumentalities,

fa bracket extending-from said supporting means, and Vmechanism operatively connected toV said movable Vmeans adapted tolimit said actuating Y ,movement a portion ofvsaid mechanismbeing slidably lmountedV inV said bracket. f

4. A racket'string tightening Vmachine com-'- prising-in combination, supporting-means for a iracket, instrumentalities adapted to receive and .upon actuation Vto tighten a stringr in Varacket, movable means to actuate said instrumentalities,

'a bracket extending-from said'supporting means `having a -hole therein,A and mechanism opera.-

V V5. A racket string tightening machine-'comprisingin combination, supporting means for a racket instrumentalitiesadapted to receive'` and rupon actuation to `tighten a string in aracket,

Y movablemeans to actuate saidv instrumentalities,

a bracket extending from said supporting means.

having a hole therein', and mechanism operatively-connected to Vsaid movable means kadapted to 'limit said actuatingY movement, saidY mecha- 'nism embodying a rod sldably mounted -in saidV hole, .a stop member mounted on said'rod `above Vsaid hole,said member beingadapted'to contact withsaid'bracket during actuation ofsaid movvablemeans 'whereby 'said' actuatingmovement is gstopped. c d Y 6. A racket string tightening-.machine com- .prisingv in combination, supporting means for a Y 'Y 'i racket, instrumentalities Vadapted, to receive and n upon actuation to vtighten a string in a racket,

movable means to actuate saidinstrumentalities, ,aj bracket extending from Vsaid 'Supportingi.,meansY Y to thereby stop Y K Y Y Y, 2,043,814" `64 indicates the'degree of tightness towhich theV having a holefthrein, and mechanism operatively connected to said Vmovable means adapted to V-limit said actuating movement, said mecha- Ynism embodying a rodrslidablymounted in said hole, acollarmountedon said rod, means tohold,

saidfcollar in a predetermined position on said rod Vwhereby actuation Vof saidV movable means brings. said collar into contact with said bracket said actuation at aV predetermined point. Y f

7. A racket string'y tightening machine comprising in`combinationsupporting means fora racket, instrumentalities adapted to receive and uponactuation to Itighten a string `in a racket embodying a tensioning device, movable means to actuate said instrumentalities, mechanism operatively connected to said movable means adapt- 1 extending from said supporting meansl on which said tensioning device is mounted, said lbracket Ved to limit said actuating movement, a bracketV embodying an 'extensionextending forward of V been actuated to a predetermined point.

8, A racket lstring tightening machine com- Vsaid tensioning'device,vsaid extension having ay l hole therein,`said mechanism embodying a rodV extending through said hole, a stop ymember on said rod above said hole adapted'tocontact with f said extension when 'said movable means have'` prising incombination, supporting means Yfor a.

racket, instrumentalities adapted-to receive ,and

upon actuationL to tighten a1 stringV in a .racket embodying a tensioning` device, movable means Vto actuate said 'instrumentalities,- mechanism -operatively connected to said movable means adaptedgto ,limity saidactuating movement, a bracket extending from said supporting means on which Y said tensioning devicev is mounted, saidbracket embodying an extension extending forward rof ksaid tensioning device, said extension having a `hole therein, said vmechanism embodying a'rod slidably extending through said hole, astop'member movably mounted on said rodabovesaid hole, Y

means to hold saidstop -member in a. iixedjpre- ,determined position on said rodwhereby said stop member will contact Vwith Ysaid extension during actuation of said'movableY means to thereby stopV saidsactuation: Y, Y Y, `9'.,`A racket `string *tighteningl machine com- .prising in combination, supportingl meansjfor la' racket, instrumentalities adapted to receive and ment, said mechanism embodying a rod connected Y with said movable means, astop membermov- `ably mounted von said rodat the upper-.portion thereof, means to'holdsaid stop Amerfnberirrla Yfixed predetermined position on. said rod; said 50 VruponV actuation to .tightena stringfina. racket embodying a *tensioningV device, abracket ex- 1 tending from said supporting means, movableV means to actuateV said instrumentalities, mech- .ansm operatively connected vto 'said movable -means adapted tojlimit said actuating `movestop member being adapted during actuation-of" .10..A racket string tightening machine. om-

js'aid movable means to contact'withsaidbracket Y -to thereby stop said actuation at a Vpredetermined point. Y' 65 I'prising in combination, VsupportingV meansfoi agracket,'instrumentalities adapted toA receive Vand upon actuation toftightena string in a racket embodying Yaftensioning device, a bracket exi jtending from said supporting means-.movable means to actuate said instrumentalities, embody-V Aing a treadle,;mechan`ism operatively connectedV to said movable meansadapted to limit said ac- Y tuating movement, said mechanism embodying 75 a rod, means connecting said rod to said treadle, a portion of said rod being adjacent said bracket, a stop member on said rod so positioned that it is adapted to contact with said bracket during actuation ofsaid movable means to thereby stop said actuation at a predetermined point.

11. A racket string tightening machine comprising in combination, supporting means for a racket, instrumentalities adapted to receive and upon actuation to tighten a string in a racket embodying a tensioning device, a bracket extending from said supporting means embodying a front extension, movable means to actuate said instrumentalities embodying a treadle, mechanism operatively connected to said movable means adapted to limit said actuating movement, said mechanism embodying a rod slidably mounted inv said front extension, a socket connected to said treadle, said rod being adjustably connected to said socket, a stop member movably mounted on said rod at the upper portion thereof above said bracket, means to hold said stop member on said rod in a xed, predetermined position, said stop member being adapted during actuation of said movable means to contact with said extension to thereby stop said actuation at a predetermined point.

12. A racket string tightening machine comprising in combination, supporting means for a racket, instrumentalities adapted to receive and upon actuation to tighten a string in a racket embodying a tensioning device, a bracket eX- tending from said supporting means embodying a front extension, movable means to actuate said instrumentalities embodying a treadle, mechanism operatively connected to said movable means adapted to limit said actuating movement, said actuation of said movable means it Will contactV with said extension to thereby stop said actuation at a predetermined point.

13. A racket string tightening machine cornprising in combination, supporting means for a racket, instrumentalities adapted to receive and upon actuation'to tighten a string in a racket, movable means to actuate said instrumentalities, embodying a treadle, mechanism operatively connected to said treadle adapted to limit said actuating movement, said mechanism embodying a rod and a stop member mounted on said rod, and pivot means pivotally connecting said rod to said treadle.

14. A racket string tightening machine comprising in combination, supporting means for a 'L racket, instrumentalities adapted upon actuation to tighten a string in a racket embodying a rotatable device adapted to receive and hold said stringmovable means to actuate said instrumentalities, said rotatable device embodying a barrel having a raised portion over which the string to be tightened passes prior to the point Where it is held and received by said device, whereby said raised portion cooperates With said movable means to tighten said string.

JOSEPH SALADINO. 

